KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 (Bernama) -- The government on Wednesday announced an Aidilfitri special payment of RM500 each for the more than 1.24 million civil servants and 590,000 government pensioners, to be paid before the festival which is likely to fall on Sept 10.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in a statement the payment was for civil servants in Grades 1 to 54 as well as the government pensioners.

"The decision (to make the payment) was made after taking into account the welfare of civil servants and government pensioners, especially with a view to easing the cost of making preparations to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri," said Najib, who is also the finance minister.

The payment would incur a total cost of RM934.6 million, that is RM639.6 million for the payment to the civil servants and RM295 million for the pensioners, he said.